TP-6 fine tuning tailpiece

I am thinking about trying a TP-6 fine tuning tailpiece on my modded Sheraton.
I have seen the one available for Gibson's guitar, but what about the one used on the Epiphone Lucille.
Anyway to buy these Epiphone ones from Epi or somewhere else ?

Vinlander,
I have never seen an Epiphone TP-6 for sale on the open market.
There may or may not be a slight difference between the Epi TP-6 that comes on a Lucille and the Gibson ones that are sold on the open market.
The Epi version Pete.R has would probably fit a Gibson. Unfortunately that does not assure that a Gibson TP-6 will fit an Epi.

I have installed (with slight modification) a Gibson TP-6 on my Epi Les Paul.
So, lets start with the basics:
The center to center of the stud slots is about 3-1/4". Mine came in at 3-7/32". (very close to 82mm.)
This should be common for both Gibson and Epiphone......

I do know that some of the older Sheratons have slightly different specs so, measure yours carefully.
If your center to center measurement of your tailpiece studs come in close to that you may be half way home.

Where there may be a difference is in the width of the slots and the thickness of the posts.
If after reading this you are still interested, I can put put up some pictures and explanations later.

My apologies as I have a meeting to attend and will not be back home for several hours.

Here's a link to one supplier. I'm sure there are others, maybe a little less expensive.

Good Lord! I had NO idea, they were that expensive, now?!! I paid 50 bucks,
for my TP-6 (Gibson, not aftermarket) tailpieces, several years ago. Wow...they've really
gone up!! OR, someone's making a killing, as the "middleman!" Damn!!

Possible options may include Schaller (Germany) or Kahler (USA).. I specifically stated Possible, because I don't know first hand if the post spacings are correct.

Bill

Vinlander, on 07 January 2012 - 05:50 PM, said:

Hello,
I am thinking about trying a TP-6 fine tuning tailpiece on my modded Sheraton.
I have seen the one available for Gibson's guitar, but what about the one used on the Epiphone Lucille.
Anyway to buy these Epiphone ones from Epi or somewhere else ?

James_E.
Wow!!! That really looks nice. Much less bulky than a TP-6. What "adjustments" did you have to do to make it happen?

Willy

Willy, both the bridge and tailpiece are Schaller and very nice quality.

The tail piece actually fit with almost no work now that I think about it (it was a couple of years ago now), I think I just pulled the old bushings and dropped in the replacements that came with the tailpiece - the distance between centers was almost identical, close enough to work anyways.

It was the bridge that took some work - I took the bushings that came with the bridge and reduced the outside diameter until they dropped directly into the Epi bushings (which I left in the body) - the Schaller tailpiece bushings are much smaller than the Epi ones and drop directly inside the Epi bushings with very little grinding.

I love the roller bridge as the Schaller version gives you lateral of the string spacing.

I'm going to have to take a better look at some of their hardware. I've always known Schaller as top drawer company.
I'm rebuilding a guit over the winter and it may end up with some new hardware.

The Radman, on 09 January 2012 - 02:24 PM, said:

At most, slight pressure on the tuning studs to get it's alignment in good.
Level the studs first, it makes it easier. Pretty much a drop in, plug and play mod.

Others have told me that they had little or no trouble doing a drop in with a TP-6.
I wasn't that lucky.

My Epi studs were slightly larger than the Gibson's that came with it. (now mind...the center to center on the studs was the same)

Any way, I figured I could either:

A. Change the bushing and the stud to the Gibson....(Trouble was the bushings required different size holes.)
B. File the inside of the slots of the TP-6.........(I have a problem modding a one buck tailpiece when a stud cost five cents.
C. Turn the shaft of the Epi stud down. (actually, I just bought another set of metric studs)

Gibson on the left....Epi on the right.

I'm sure it would be better if I had a machine shop around. Oh well.
Disclaimer: It's not the right way, It's just my way.

I don't have a lathe so for small parts I sometimes use my drill.
First I taped the threads. About 8 or 10 wraps. (Easy fit in a 3/8" chuck drill...9.5mm)

There's a gold TP6 listed on ebay right now- the bidding is up to $8.50 with 4 days left. It's stamped "Epiphone" on the back. I emailed the seller to see if they also have it in chrome, but they only have it in gold.

I bought a 1978 Gibson L-6s custom a month ago and it has a TP-6 on it.I'm not sure if it was stock on it but the year is right and most of the TP-6 bridges were used in 1978 so who knows maybe it's stock.Although the guitar needs a good cleaning everything works fine and it all seems to be stock.Cool tailpiece with the small tuners on it and the strings thread through like a standard bridge no cutting the ball ends off like some of the Floyd's or Kahlers.